Monday, 9 June 2025

TCAF 2025

 


I'm back from a TCAF solo vacation in Toronto, my first in seven long years!

I left early Friday morning with an iced coffee-send off from the mother. Great service, nice trip, and a delicious breakfast on the train ride to Toronto. Very hazy pulling into the city. I could barely see the CN Tower!

Even more great service exiting Toronto Union Station, cabbing to my hotel, and checking in.

Smoke and smog from forest fires raging in other provinces convinced me to spend much of Friday afternoon and night in my room, save for a very quick trip to a nearby grocery store and Subway for some snacks and supper. I wasn't complaining though:

For two nights, it was ALL MINE!




I slept in and took my time Saturday morning, then walked literally next door to the Mattamy Athletic Centre, formerly Maple Leaf Gardens, for TCAF. 


I'm absolutely not a hockey or sports fan, but Maple Leaf Gardens is part of Canadian history, so I was excited about that and needed a photo. Inside, the event was spread between two rooms on two separate floors (the photo at the top, and another in what looked like a basketball court). Not as spectacular-looking as past years at the Reference Library, but still just as crazy.
 
I got a good bag-full of books, post cards, and a couple other things, then left. 



On my way out, I remembered I was in the "old" arena, so I went into the stands to organize my swag and take a photo.


I wasn't feeling as adventurous as in previous years, so I stuck to a pretty small grid throughout the weekend. Thankfully, there was a decent Irish pub across from the hotel for lunch after TCAF. Got an iced latte on the way back to the hotel, then brought some dinner back and watched Star Wars movies the rest of the night.

Yesterday, I got to the train station early, hung out in their food court (very nice!) for a while, then boarded my train home. A few delays, but thankfully there was a nice meal and I brought a few leftover snacks for the wait.



It was a really nice weekend on my own, and I'm happy that I still have what it takes to pull it off, but it just didn't hold the same excitement as past trips, and I'm not sure if I'll go again. To be honest, I didn't feel as safe as before. Maybe due to the event being in a different location this year, I don't know? 

I also couldn't help thinking that I could have roughly the same experience (but vastly cheaper!) by getting Para Transpo to any number of local book stores or comic shops, buying a bunch of stuff, then going for lunch. Maybe it's a sign I'm not as young as when I first went ten or so years ago. 😆

Bottom line, it was still a blast and I'm glad I did it.

Cheers!

Thursday, 5 June 2025

A Fine First Week (and a bit) of Being Forty

 


Ten days in, and 40 is thus far going pretty swell.

I went into work last Tuesday and received a very nice e-card from the Communications team, and later enjoyed a delicious barbeque for my birthday supper. Cheesecake for dessert and I shocked everyone, including myself, by blowing out my candles in just one try! (last year took eight...) Gifts included an Indigo gift card to get a good stack of new books this past weekend. 

A tube in one of my ears popped out Sunday which, combined with pressure from up-and-down weather, made me feel pretty gross earlier this week, but I got everything checked out and am feeling better.

The past two days have been great. My contract at work got renewed, earning fist-bumps from senior staff members this morning (plus a bonus free donut)! And just this evening I accepted an advocacy opportunity from LiveWorkPlay for some consulting later this month. 

Oh, and I'm just about ready for TCAF and Toronto for the weekend. On my own, indulging in junk food, comics, and a nice hotel bed!

More posts about all of these things later.

Cheers!